Poor communications and lack of equipment made rescuers' job more difficult

Friday 6 May 2011 11:27 BST

As the emergency services and London Underground staff struggled to cope with the unprecedented horror of the bombings, their efforts were repeatedly frustrated by poor communications and a lack of equipment and medical supplies.

London Ambulance Service

Paramedics were seriously delayed in reaching the blast scenes. A shortage of radio operators in the London Ambulance Service control room meant some urgent requests for help went unheard, while only half of the 201 ambulances available were dispatched.

The first emergency medical staff did not reach Russell Square Tube for 40 minutes and the first crew to reach the bus bombing was passing by chance.

Since 7/7, the LAS has established a modern control room and a disaster plan which will instantly dispatch a convoy of vehicles, including 20 ambulances, to a major incident. Two hazardous area response teams with more than 80 staff can treat 48 critically injured patients. The new digital radios work underground.

London Fire Brigade

Protocols on entering dangerous areas stopped some firefighters from descending immediately to the bombed trains. Some refused to enter tunnels until Tube staff confirmed they had switched off electricity to the tracks.

Several fire crews expressed frustration at a lack of stretchers. Firefighter Neil Walker said the bandages in his small first aid kit ran out quickly and he "watched a young man die" while waiting for medics at Aldgate.

A new digital radio system operates underground. New specialist rescue units will handle complex emergencies.

Police

The three forces that responded struggled with communications, many using runners when radios and mobiles did not work underground. A casualty bureau system was swamped by calls from relatives, at one point receiving 43,000 an hour. A digital radio system now works underground. A new casualty bureau system has been set up, with a control room in Lambeth.

London Underground

LU staff were often first to reach survivors but lacked first aid supplies. Their radios did not work in deep tunnels: there was no link between drivers, passengers and the surface.

First aid provision at stations is now improved, with mass casualty kits at 170 key locations, emergency water stores and new stretchers - during 7/7 staff used tables and a window to carry casualties. First aider numbers have doubled, there is new emergency lighting on all trains and the network has almost twice as many CCTV cameras. The Tube's new digital radio network can be used by emergency services.